Trump’s DEA Nominee Withdraws Amid Growing Controversy

Chad Chronister, Hillsborough County Sheriff in Florida, has requested to be removed as a candidate to lead President Trump’s Drug Enforcement Administration. Sheriff Chronister explained his reasoning in a brief announcement.

It is an honor to have been selected by Donald Trump as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. As the gravity of the responsibility became apparent over the last few days, I decided to respectfully withdraw my name from consideration. There’s still a lot to do for the people of Hillsborough County, and I’m committed to completing many initiatives. I am grateful for the nomination and the outpouring of support from the American people. I look forward to serving as the Sheriff of Hillsborough County.

To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully… pic.twitter.com/bvNF8m9Bh4

— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) December 3, 2024

Chronister has been elected twice since being appointed Sheriff. Chronister was nominated by President Trump on Saturday. However, some of his policies (supporting DEI and red flag laws for example), quickly led to opposition against his nomination.

Chronister’s position on COVID-19 vaccination mandates was one such policy.

“I put out a policy a while ago that if you are unvaccinated and you have to quarantine or you get ill you have to use your own accrued time. If you are vaccinated and you get sick the sheriff’s office will cover your time off,” said Chad Chronister. https://t.co/R3XMV4Qmwo

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) December 1, 2024

Chronister also refused to stop BLM protesters in 2020 but arrested a minister for “illegally holding services” during the pandemic. They attribute this to their soft immigration policies.